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Kinnick Stadium is one of our greatest treasures. It is also one of the greatest tragedies in our journey towards racial equality and social justice.
Kinnick Stadium was supposed to be named Kinnick-Slater Stadium.
Kinnick Stadium was supposed to be named Kinnick-Slater Stadium.
Like many people, I have spent time reflecting, learning, and thinking about what more I can do to help.
Part of my reflection involved thinking about communities I'm part of. The University of Iowa is an important one for me.
Part of my reflection involved thinking about communities I'm part of. The University of Iowa is an important one for me.
As a university and a community, we've done many things we can be proud of. We've also acted in ways we should not be proud of. We're just starting to learn about many of them now.
This is a fact. We need to accept it. We have a lot of mistakes to correct.
This is a fact. We need to accept it. We have a lot of mistakes to correct.
We've hurt some of the same student-athletes we’ve cheered for on Saturdays. https://www.hawkeyenation.com/opinion/howe-iowa-football-must-address-former-players-speaking-out
We've had concerning discussions among some fans about race and equality.
And, unfortunately, we have a history of behaving like this.
One of our greatest tragedies was committed against Duke Slater, now one of five Hawkeyes enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. https://theathletic.com/1536390/2020/01/15/iowa-football-duke-slater-pro-football-hall-of-fame-class-2020/?article_source=search&redirected=1
One of our greatest tragedies was committed against Duke Slater, now one of five Hawkeyes enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. https://theathletic.com/1536390/2020/01/15/iowa-football-duke-slater-pro-football-hall-of-fame-class-2020/?article_source=search&redirected=1
In 1972, Willard "Sandy" Boyd, the president of the university, proposed "Kinnick-Slater Stadium" as the new name for Iowa Stadium to honor two of our greats.
[Excerpts from the book Duke Slater by @NealRozendaal]
![In 1972, Willard "Sandy" Boyd, the president of the university, proposed "Kinnick-Slater Stadium" as the new name for Iowa Stadium to honor two of our greats.[Excerpts from the book Duke Slater by @NealRozendaal]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZ7wMmnXgAM-nIh.png "In 1972, Willard \"Sandy\" Boyd, the president of the university, proposed \"Kinnick-Slater Stadium\" as the new name for Iowa Stadium to honor two of our greats.[Excerpts from the book Duke Slater by @NealRozendaal]")
[Excerpts from the book Duke Slater by @NealRozendaal]
Including a Black student-athlete alongside Nile Kinnick's name didn't go over well.
We compromised. We took the easy way out. We named a dormitory after him instead.
We decided to honor the life of a Heisman trophy winner and war hero.
We decided not to equally honor the life of a great Black athlete, scholar, professional, and alumnus.
One who deserved to share the name of the stadium with Nile Kinnick.
We decided not to equally honor the life of a great Black athlete, scholar, professional, and alumnus.
One who deserved to share the name of the stadium with Nile Kinnick.
The rest is history. An iconic college football stadium is named after Nile Kinnick. A college dormitory is named after Duke Slater.
Most of us don't even know why.
Most of us don't even know why.
We chose not to include Duke Slater in the name of our stadium in 1972. Iowa State named the field at Cyclone Stadium after Jack Trice in 1975.
They became the first Division 1-A university to name a football stadium after an African-American in 1997. https://www.espn.com/espn/blackhistory2008/news/story?id=3242390
They became the first Division 1-A university to name a football stadium after an African-American in 1997. https://www.espn.com/espn/blackhistory2008/news/story?id=3242390
Iowa State chose to honor their first African-American hero–why are we so shy to do the same?
Nile Kinnick himself was deeply concerned about civil rights in our country.
Honoring Duke Slater is honoring part of the very dream Nile Kinnick fought and died for. https://twitter.com/PlannedSickDays/status/1269474582832037894
Honoring Duke Slater is honoring part of the very dream Nile Kinnick fought and died for. https://twitter.com/PlannedSickDays/status/1269474582832037894
We lost an icon, a pioneer, and a champion of civil rights on December 12, 2019. Hayden Fry embraced social justice and reform when it was widely unacceptable to do so. https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2019/12/18/hayden-fry-winning-coach-and-pioneer/
A man who passed at age 90, universally revered and respected, had his life threatened in the 1960s to defend this cause.
All of us are left to carry Hayden Fry's torch of social justice reform.
We've started the difficult process of making necessary changes: https://twitter.com/HawkeyeFootball/status/1267847128069500929
We've started the difficult process of making necessary changes: https://twitter.com/HawkeyeFootball/status/1267847128069500929
We still have a long way to go: https://twitter.com/HawkeyeFootball/status/1269083767534170113
This is not who we are. This is not the example we want to set. https://twitter.com/mobrientv/status/1269462424115122176
This is who we are. This is the example we want to set.
We have rallied behind so many others who deserve dignity and support.
We've honored farmers. Troops. Players. Children.
We've honored farmers. Troops. Players. Children.
How can we show the same level of support for current and former Black student-athletes, coaches, faculty, fans, and members of the community?
We started honoring Duke Slater with a dormitory. We continued with a statue. It's time to finish the job.
https://magazine.foriowa.org/story.php?ed=true&storyid=1880
We started honoring Duke Slater with a dormitory. We continued with a statue. It's time to finish the job.
https://magazine.foriowa.org/story.php?ed=true&storyid=1880
What would it take to get Duke Slater added to the name of the stadium before the start of the season?
Dr. Boyd is 93. What would it take to allow him see the change he so courageously asked for?
What would it take to heal 50 years of injustice?
Six letters. S-L-A-T-E-R.
Dr. Boyd is 93. What would it take to allow him see the change he so courageously asked for?
What would it take to heal 50 years of injustice?
Six letters. S-L-A-T-E-R.
We did not do the right thing when we renamed the stadium in 1972.
We have another chance to do the right thing now. Let’s not make the same mistake again.
We need to do this before the start of the season. We have 90 days. Let's get it done.
We have another chance to do the right thing now. Let’s not make the same mistake again.
We need to do this before the start of the season. We have 90 days. Let's get it done.
Changing the stadium's name can't change the past.
However, it can make a statement about our identity as a university, community, and fans going forward.
We've talked about making change as individuals and as a team. This is what change looks like. Let’s go Hawks!
However, it can make a statement about our identity as a university, community, and fans going forward.
We've talked about making change as individuals and as a team. This is what change looks like. Let’s go Hawks!
